Toy cap

ABSTRACT

A cap having a closing portion and a toy portion is provided. The toy portion has at least one toy element supported by the closing portion by breakable attachments. The at least one toy element is separable from the cap to be used as a toy in such a way that structural integrity of the closing portion is not compromised after the at least one toy element has been detached. The cap is for a spout of a thin-walled flexible package.

The present invention relates to the field of thin-walled flexible packages provided with a spout, usually referred to as a “spouted pouch.” In particular, the subject matter of the present invention is a cap which, in addition to closing the spout, provides a toy for children.

The aforementioned packages are widely used to contain juices and fruit purees, yogurt, energy drinks, and other beverages or foods, especially for children, thanks in part to the playful component associated with the spout.

In order to make the package and the product contained therein even more attractive to children, some caps that allow for a game to be played have been designed. For example, there are the known solutions described in International Applications WO-A1-2014/083478 and WO-A1-2019/064095 filed in the Applicant's name.

The purpose of the present invention is to make another cap provided with a game.

This purpose is achieved by a cap according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe additional advantageous embodiments.

The features and advantages of the cap according to this invention will become apparent from the following description, given as a non-limiting example in accordance with the figures in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a cap according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a toy element of the cap in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 depicts the cap of FIG. 1 without the toy element of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 depicts a cap according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a cap according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts a front view of the cap in FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the cap in FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 8 shows the cap in FIG. 5 without any toy elements;

FIGS. 9 and 10 show toy elements of the cap in FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 11 depicts the toy elements of FIGS. 9 e 10 joined together.

In reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 in the appended drawings, the number 1 refers to a cap according to an embodiment of the present invention as a whole. Preferably, the cap 1 is intended to be applied to a spout of a thin-walled flexible package provided with a neck through which the product contained in the bag of the package comes out.

Preferably, the cap 1 is made in a single piece of plastic material, for example by injection molding.

The cap 1 comprises a closing portion 2 that can be applied to the spout of the package, for example by threaded means, comprising an annular side wall 4 which extends around a central axis X between a lower end 6 and an opposite upper end 8.

The closing portion 2 further comprises a base 10 which closes the side wall 4 at the upper end 8.

In addition, the closing portion 2 preferably comprises a flange 12 connected to the side wall 4 and protruding radially on the outside thereof at the lower end 6.

Preferably, the cap 1 further comprises a tamper-evident seal 14 arranged at the lower end 6 of the side wall 4, suitable for indicating the first opening of the cap.

For example, the tamper-evident seal 14 comprises a tamper-evident ring 16 that is coaxial with the side wall 4, suitable for being non-removably fitted onto the package spout, for example with free rotation thereon.

The tamper-evident seal 14 further comprises a plurality of breakable tabs 18 that connect the tamper-evident ring 16 to the closing portion 2, for example the lower end 6 of the side wall 4 or the flange 12.

In addition, the cap 1 preferably comprises a strap 20 that connects the tamper-evident seal 16 to the closing portion 2, for example the lower end 6 of the side wall 4 or the flange 12.

The strap 20 comprises a first section 22, for example straight, connected to the tamper-evident ring 16 and protruding radially from the outside thereof, a second section 24, for example straight, connected to the closing portion 2 and protruding radially from the outside thereof, and a curved connection section 26 connecting the first section 22 to the second section 24.

With Z defining a centerline of the thickness of strap 20, said centerline Z sits on an imaginary plane that also contains the central axis X of the closing portion 2.

The cap 1 further comprises a toy portion 30 supported by the closing portion 2.

The toy portion 30 comprises a toy element 40 and at least one breakable attachment 42 such that the closing portion 2 supports the toy element 40 by means of said at least one attachment 42, and the toy element 40 is separable from the closing portion 2 by breakage of said at least one attachment 42, in such a way that the structural integrity of the closing portion 2 is not harmed by breakage of said at least one attachment 42.

In other words, the toy element 40 is separable from the closing portion 2 by breaking said at least one attachment 42, such that breakage of said at least one attachment 42 does not compromise the structural integrity of the closing portion 2.

After the at least one attachment 42 has been broken, the closing portion 2 continues to serve a closing function on the spout, i.e. it prevents fluid from coming out of the bag.

Consequently, the toy element 40 is separable from the closing portion 2 by breakage of at least one attachment 42, such that the closing portion 2 is reusable and, when placed on the spout, prevents the fluid contained in the bag from coming out.

For example, the toy element 40 is shaped like an animal, a fictional character, a letter of the alphabet, a number, or any other shape.

According to a preferred embodiment, the toy portion 30 comprises a frame 32 supported by the closing portion 2, which is in turn supported by the toy element 40 by means of the attachment 42.

For example, the frame 32 consists of a band 34, having for example a substantially circular shape, protruding from a first area 36 of the closing portion 2, for example on the side wall 4, and ending at a second area 38 of the closing portion 2, for example on the side wall 4.

According to additional embodiment variants, the band 34 has a polygonal, curved, or mixed shape.

According to a preferred embodiment, the toy portion 30 further comprises a framework 50 contained within the frame 32 and supported thereby, which in turn surrounds the toy element 40 and supports it by means of the attachment 42.

For example, the framework 50 consists of an annular belt 52, for example having a substantially circular, polygonal, curved, or mixed shape.

Preferably, the space between the framework 50, the toy element 30, and the attachment 42 is empty to facilitate separation of the toy element 30 by breakage of the attachments 42.

Preferably, the space between the frame 32 and the framework 50 is instead occupied by a partition 60, for example flat, to facilitate gripping of the toy portion 30 required to screw the cap on or off.

With K defining a centerline of the thickness of the frame 32, said centerline K preferably lies on an imaginary plane containing the central axis X and coincides with the imaginary plane containing the centerline Z of the strap 20.

With W defining a centerline of the thickness of the belt 52, said centerline W preferably lies on an imaginary plane containing the central axis X and coincides with the imaginary plane containing the centerline Z of the strap 20 and the centerline K of the frame 32.

In addition, the toy portion 30 is preferably substantially flat, i.e. contained between two parallel imaginary planes between which is placed the imaginary plane containing the centerline W of the belt 52, the central axis X, the centerline Z of the strap 20, and the centerline K of the frame 32.

According to a first embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 4 ), the toy portion 30 comprises a single toy element 40.

According to additional embodiments, a toy portion comprises two or more toy elements. For example, according to an embodiment (FIGS. 5 to 8 ), a toy portion 130 comprises two toy elements 40′ and 40″.

For example, in such an embodiment, the toy portion 130 of a cap 100 has two ears 131, 133, placed on opposite sides with respect to the central axis X, in which each ear 131, 133 has a respective framework 50′, 50″ inside which is placed the respective toy element 40′, 40″ held by the attachments 42.

According to a preferred embodiment, the toy elements 40′, 40″ of a single cap 100 are connectable together, for example interlockable, so as to form a free-standing toy assembly. For example, a toy assembly 200 consists of the assembly of a first toy element 40′ consisting of a fictional character, and a second toy element 40″ consisting of a base to support the fictional character, for example provided with a dome-shaped bottom 41.

According to yet another embodiment, a cap assembly consists of a plurality of caps 1, 100, and the toy elements 40, 40′, 40″ of said caps 1, 100 are mutually couplable, for example interlockable (FIGS. 9 to 11 ).

Innovatively, the cap according to the present invention meets the needs of the field by providing a cap particularly attractive to children who, whether the cap is screwed onto the spout or not, may remove the toy element.

Advantageously, a user may separate the toy element from the closing portion without having to finish the product contained therein. Indeed, even after the toy element has been detached, the closing portion may be reused to close the package and, in particular, to prevent the fluid from coming out of the spout.

It is understood that a person skilled in the art could make modifications to the cap described above, all of which are contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cap comprising a closing portion suitable for being applied to a mouth for closing the mouth, and a toy portion supported by the closing portion and comprising at least one toy element and at least one breakable attachment, said at least one toy element being supported by the closing portion by means of said at least one breakable attachment and being separable from the cap by breakage of said at least one breakable attachment in such a way that structural integrity of the closing portion is not harmed by breakage of said at least one breakable attachment.
 2. The cap of claim 1, wherein said cap is made in a single piece of plastic material.
 3. The cap of claim 1, wherein the toy portion comprises a frame supported by the closing portion, and wherein the frame supports said at least one toy element by said at least one breakable attachment.
 4. The cap of claim 3, wherein the frame consists of a band protruding from a first area of the closing portion and terminating at a second area of the closing portion.
 5. The cap of claim 3, wherein the toy portion further comprises at least one framework, contained in the frame and supported by the frame, wherein said at least one framework surrounds a respective toy element and supports the respective toy element by said at least one breakable attachment.
 6. The cap of claim 5, wherein said at least one framework consists of an annular belt.
 7. The cap of claim 1, wherein the closing portion comprises an annular side wall that extends about a central axis between a lower end and an opposite upper end, and a base that closes the annular side wall at the upper end.
 8. The cap of claim 7, further comprising a tamper-evident seal arranged on a side of the lower end of the annular side wall and suitable for indicating a first opening of the cap.
 9. The cap of claim 8, further comprising a strap that connects a tamper-evident ring of the tamper-evident seal to the closing portion.
 10. The cap of claim 9, wherein the toy portion comprises a frame supported by the closing portion, wherein the frame supports said at least one toy element by said at least one breakable attachment, and wherein: with a centerline (Z) defining a thickness of the strap, said centerline (Z) lies on an imaginary plane which also contains the central axis; and with a centerline (K) defining a thickness of the frame, said centerline (K) lies on an imaginary plane which contains the central axis and coincides with the imaginary plane that contains the centerline (Z) of the strap.
 11. The cap of claim 10, wherein the toy portion is substantially flat, being contained between two parallel imaginary planes, between which the imaginary plane containing the centerline (K) of the frame, the central axis, and the centerline (Z) of the strap is placed.
 12. A thin-walled flexible package comprising: a spout having a mouth; and a cap according to claim 1, applied to the mouth of the spout.
 13. An assembly comprising: a plurality of caps, wherein each cap of the plurality of caps is according to any one of claims claims 1; and wherein at least two toy elements of the caps of said plurality of caps are mutually couplable.
 14. The cap of claim 1, wherein said cap is made in a single piece of plastic material by injection molding.
 15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least two toy elements are interlockable. 